Soon-Gook Hong, PhD

Soon-Gook is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Mack Lab in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology at UCLA. He holds a BA in Physical Education from Korea University and MS in Exercise Physiology from Seoul National University in South Korea. During his time as a MS student, Soon-Gook participated in multiple human research projects focusing on the effects of physical activity on chronic diseases associated with aging and cognitive function in elderly. Then, he worked in Dr. Joon Park’s Laboratory in the Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University as a Research Assistant during his doctoral study where he received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology: Integrative Exercise Physiology focusing on mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy process in endothelial cells under physiological flow conditions. His postdoctoral research focuses on mechanisms of endothelial cell resilience under flow in endothelial cells with the focus on vascular disease prevention. His research areas of interest include endothelial biology, mechanobiology, mitochondrial biology, and exercise physiology. The long-term goal of his research is to elucidate the molecular signaling mechanisms by which blood flow regulates endothelial cell function and how physical activity improves adverse effects of aging, especially in the blood vessel. During his spare time, Soon-Gook enjoys outdoor activities, including playing golf, hiking, fishing, swimming, and weight training.